Cushion pad with prepressurized load supporting cells



June 26, 1962 B. JUDsoN ETAL. 3,041,221

CUSHION PAD WITH PREPRESSURIZED LOAD SUPPORTING CELLS Filed. DEG. 21, 1959 BY @f5 ,e .Effie LWL@ 1&9 10 I 4mm United States Patent M 3,041,221 CUSHION PAD WITH PREPRESSURIZED LOAD SUPPORTING CELLS Barney Judson, 3033 N. 53rd, and Chester R. Piepe RO. Box 701, both of Scottsdale, Ariz.

Filed Dec. 21, 1959, Ser. No. 861,085 2 Claims. (Cl. 154-49) pad structure elements.

A further object is to provide a pad structure as above comprising basic elements assembled together in interlocking fashion to form the completed cushion pad.

And a further object is to provide telescopic sides for the cells of the two basic elements which regulate and seal j the pressurized air in the air pocket cells during the l assembly of the pad elements.

An important object of this invention is to utilize prepressurized air Yin the load supporting cells so that less material and weight are required in the pad while having greater load carrying capacity,

Still another object of this invention is to provide a pad structure as above which is easily and quickly assembled and requiring no special skill or tools, jigs or fixtures for rapid assembly of the pad structure.

Further features of this invention will appear from a detailed description of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one of the basic elements forming the cushion pad incorporating the features of this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional View on the line 2--2 of FIG. l.

t FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the other basic element forming with the element of FIG. 1 the cushion pad.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional assembly view of the parts shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 when used as a rug pad and the like.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional assembly view showing the manner in which pads are connected together end-toend.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional assembly view showing the finishing of the pad edges when used as a rug pad.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional assembly view showing the pad used as a shoe sole.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged Sectional view of a preferred form of telescopic joints between the two basic elements.

FIG. 10 is a View similar to FIG. 9 showing a modiiication of the joint of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a sectional View on the line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view of still another form of telescopic joint.

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 showing an air bleed arrangement for the joint of FIG. 12.

As an example of one embodiment of this invention,

` there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, two of the essential elements making up the cushion pad assembly of this invention.` In FIG. 1 is shown one element 20 comprising the plate portion 21 formed with integral intersecting transverse ribs 22 and longitudinal ribs 23 forming cavities 24. The other element 2:6 shown in FIG. 3 Ihas a plate 3,041,221 Patented June 26, 1962 portion 25 formed with integral intersecting transverse ribs 27 and longitudinal ribs 218 of greater Width than the ribs 22 and 23 of the first mentioned element. Each of the ribs 27 and 28 are formed with intersecting slots 29 which slidingly telescopically receive the ribs 22 and 23 of the element 20 when the elements are assembled together as shown in FIG. 5. The cavities 30 formed by the ribs 27 and 28 cooperate with th`e cavities 24 formed by 'ribs 212 and 23 to form totally closed air pressure cells whenthe elements 20 and 26 are assembled together. Preferably the sides 31 of the ribs 22 and 23 and the sides 32 of the slots 29 of the ribs 27 and 28 are coated with a suitable thermosetting adhesive when the parts :areas- Vsembled which serves as a seal as the parts slide together to maintain the compressed air in the cells and to lock the parts together after they have been lsuitably assembled.

It is to be noted that the extent to which the elements 20 and 26 `are pressed together determines the amount of prepressurizing provided in the pressurized cells 33. Thus a prepressurized load supporting cell grid is provided for the cushion pad ready to support work without any initial deflection inwardly of the pad to get support.

In FIG. 8 is shown an arrangement of the pad for use as a shoe sole wherein the tread 34 of the shoe sole 35 is formed integral as a part of the element 26.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show the arrangement where several rug type pads are to be yattached edgewise together to form large mats. In this arrangement end ribs 22 are formed of half thickness as at 36 and only half a slot 29 is provided as at 37 at the abutting edges of the pads to be joined, the joints being. staggered and taped a-s shown in FIG. 6. The end cells are trimmed olf at the exposed edges of the assembled mat and tapered down as shown at 38 in FIG. 7 to accommodate the carpet 39.

In FIG. 9 is shown an arrangement where the ends 40 of the ribs 22 and 23 of the member element 20 are chamfered at `41 and the ribs 27 and 28 of the member element 26 have chamfered surfaces 42 adjacent the-openings ofthe slots 29 so as to facilitate ea'sy entrance of the ribs 22 and 23 into the slots 29 in the ribs 27 and 28.

It will be noted that the amount of precompression or prepressurizing of the air in the cells 33 depends on the degree of telescopic travel Vof the ribs 22-23 into the ribs 27-28. As in FIG. 9 the full telescopic travel for full compression is provided, the ends 4t) of the ribs 22- 23 bottoming in the slots 29 at the" conclusion of the assembly of members 20` and 26 to give a predetermined compression in the cells. In FIGS. 10 and 11 bleed slots 43 are provided in the sides of the slots 29 to allow escape of trapped air in the bottom of the slots to enhance the Avalue of the compressed air cushion and reduce the necessary height of the cells. In FIG. 12 is shown short cell walls 44 for low compression charging of the cells on assembly. FIG. 13 shows an air bleed opening 45 to the end of the slots 29 to permit air escape during assembly.

While the apparatus herein disclosed and described j constitutes a preferred form of the invention, it is also to be understood that the apparatus is capable of mechanical alteration Without departing from the spirit of the invention and that such mechanical arrangement and commercial adaptation as fall within the scope of the appendant claims are intended to be included herein.

Having thus fully set forth and described this invention what is claimed and desired to be obtained by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A cushion pad including, a member having, a plate portion, a grid comprising intersecting transverse ribs and longitudinal ribs integrally connected to said plate portion and forming cavities therewith, a second member having a plate portion, intersecting transverse ribs and longitudinal ribs integrally connected to said second member and forming cavities therewith, said ribs being of 3 greater width than the ribs of said first member and having intersecting slots formed therein adapted to telescopically receive said ribs of said rst element when said members are assembled-together to thereby provide totally closedY compressed air cells formed Vby said cavities between said ribs, and bleed slotsin the sides of the said mentioned slots lto allow escape of. trapped air in the bottom of the slots during assembly of said members together.

2. A cushion pad including, a member having, a plate portion, a grid comprising intersecting transverse ribs and longitudinal ribs integrally connected to said plate portion and forming cavities therewith, a second member having a plate portion, intersecting transverse ribs and longitudinal ribs integrally connected to said second member and forming cavities therewith, `said ribs being of greater width than the ribs of said rst mentioned member and having intersecting slots formed therein adapted to telescopically receive said ribs of said rst element when said members are assembled together to thereby provide totally closed compressed air cells formed by said cavities between said ribs, and air bleed openings in the bottom of said slots to permit air escape during assembly of said members.

References Cited in the lle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A CUSHION PAD INCLUDING, A MEMBER HAVING, A PLATE PORTION, A GRID COMPRISING INTERSECTING TRANSVERSE RIBS AND LONGITUDINAL RIBS INTEGRALLY CONNECTED TO SAID PLATE PORTION AND FORMING CAVITIES THEREWITH, A SECOND MEMBER HAVING A PLATE PORTION, INTERSECTING TRANSVERSE RIBS AND LONGITUDINAL RIBS INTEGRALLY CONNECTED TO SAID SECOND MEMBER AND FORMING CAVITIES THEREWITH, SAID RIBS BEING OF GREATER WIDTH THAN THE RIBS OF SAID FIRST MEMBER AND HAVING INTERSECTING SLOTS FORMED THEREIN ADAPTED TO TELESCOPICALLY RECEIVE SAID RIBS OF SAID FIRST ELEMENT WHEN SAID MEMBERS ARE ASSEMBLED TOGETHER TO THEREBY PROVIDE TOTALLY CLOSED COMPRESSED AIR CELLS FORMED BY SAID CAVITIES BETWEEN SAID RIBS, AND BLEED SLOTS IN THE SIDES OF THE SAID MENTIONED SLOTS TO ALLOW ESCAPE OF TRAPPED AIR IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SLOTS DURING ASSEMBLY OF SAID MEMBERS TOGETHER. 